Dispensing apparatus



May 9, 1933. Wl E. BENSON 1,907,714

DI SPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 27, 1930 Patented May 9, 1933 unirse STATI-:sY

PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM( E. BENSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T KALIX `CYUP CONI- PANY, WEST CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS DISPENSING APPARATUS Application led October 27, 190. Serial N'o. 491,612.

This invention relates to the dispensing of nested articles such as paper cups or like containers and involves certain Vimprovements v upon the device disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 463,934 to which referente is made as containing a full discussion of the problems in the art.

In general my present invention provides for a more positive and dependable functioning of the apparatus to the end that the paper cups or other articles shall be positively separated and promptly released.

his object is obtained by the structure shown in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. l is a view through a series ot' nested cups dispensed by apparatus kin accordance with my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in plan section illustrating the compressive action of the dispensing units upon the mouth of the cup or other article being dispensed, and

F ig. 3 is a detail View of one of the dispensing units removed from the machine.

In accordance with my general concept the articles to be dispensed as, for example, a nested column of cups l is contained in any suitable cup chute and the lowermost cups in the column are successively withdrawn for subsequent filling and capping.

Such withdrawal is effected by means of a series of rotating dispensing units indicated generally at 2 between which the cup column is centered. TWhile not restricted to any speciiic number of units I iind in practice that the symmetrical arrangement or' four dispensing units as shown in this drawing is highly satisfactory. y

The dispensing units are rotatable relative to the cup column and may be driven in any suitable manner. They may rotate either in a continuous rotary path or they may oscillate. As here shown the units are simultaneously revolved in a continuous rotary path. Such movement may be imparted in any suitable manner and inasmuch as this forms no part of my present invention I have simply indicated by conventional arrows on the drawing that the shafts 3 tor the several units are rotated continuously in the same direction. In practice this may be accomplished by providing each shaftv with la sprocket and driving the same by means of a sprocket chain. a i

In accordance with my present invention each unit is formed with a tapered section 4. Such taper starts at a point well above the lower ends of the units and extends towards the article supporting surface adjacent the lower end of the unit on which surface the projecting flanges 1 of the cups l in the cup column are adapted to be supported by and means of which the cups are successively ejected from the apparatus. The edect of such tapered sections is to subject each cup in the cup column to a progressive squeezing action as the cups descend therepast. This squeezing action distorts the cup slightly about its mouth as the cup progresses down the tapered sections of the dispensing units and such squeezing action reaches its maxithe cup. 4

The cup supporting surfaces at the lower ends of the dispensing units are in the nature of cam surfaces which bear beneath the projecting flanges l of the cups. lSuch cam surfaces include` a generally horizontal surface or ledge Aon which the rolled edge l of the lowermost cup initially rests after passing downthe tapered section 3 of the units'2. Inthis the pressure of the cups thereabove in the .column urges the' lowermost cup downwardly and outwardly through the units 2. As the units revolve in the direction of the arrows the supportingledge Ais removed from beneath the rolled edge of the' lowermost cup and said cup drops by gravity, aided by the' pressure of `the col-V umn of cups onto the ledge B. This ledge is disposed below the .plane of the ledge A Vwith which it merges as best shown yin Fig.

3. At this phase therefore in the rotation of the units 2 the rolled edge of the lowermost cup is supported upon the ledge B and continues to be supported on said ledge through their rotation. In the further rotation of the units 2 the lower edge. of the lowermost cup passes off the ledge B and is free from the units 2, the ledge B terminating in a downwardly and outwardly beveled face C which permits full release of the lowermost cup. Y

In the meantime the rotationv of the units 2 has carried the ledge A in position to engage beneath the support the next uppermostcup in the column so that as one cup is freed the next cup above is supported.

Various modifications in the structure and use may all be resorted to'without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What Iftherefore claim and desire to secure .by Letters Patent is:

l. In a container dispenser,'a stack for containing a column of nested containers, a series lof dispensing units disposed symmef trically about the stack bottom axis, each unit comprising a member rotatable during the dispensing action about an axis parallel to the stack axis and each having a tapered section engaging and compressing Vthe container and terminating in a container supporting surface in the form of an interrupted spiral the leads of which are disposed at different elevations about the member whereby progressively to engage and compress the Y outermost container in the column and detach it from the column.

2. In a container dispenser, a stack for acolumn of nested containers, a series of dispensing units disposed about the stack each unit comprising a member rotatable during the dispensing action about an axis parallel to` the stack axis and each having a conical portion of gradually increasing radius overlapping the stack radius, and each terminating in a container releasing member and with said member progressively engaging `and compressing the containers during the rotation of said units whereby so to shape said containers' as to avoid structural variations thereof and to permit accurate centralizing and dispensing thereof.v

3.Y In a container dispenser, a stack for a column of nested containers, a series of dispensing units disposed about the stack each unit comprising va member rotatable during thevdispensing action about an axis parallel i to the stack axis and each having dispens- 'f ing member having a conical portion of gradually increasing radius overlapping the stack radius', and each adapted progressively to engage and compress the lowermost containers during the rotation of said units whereby so to shape the same as to avoid `structural variations thereof and to permit accurate delivery thereof from said dispensing member.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM E. BENSON. 

